Niche for less: exploring Khadlaj's higher ups

For as long as I've known myself, I've been acutely aware that I'm quite a contrary person. If the crowd flocks one way, I dart the other. However, I am not immune to the draw of fragrance YouTube. And so, when the urge arises, I go hunting- searching for hidden gems, as they say, to experience and perhaps rouse my imagination to write about. Today, I'd very much like to tell you about a collection of two fragrances that have tugged at my heart and won my admiration.

In 2023, the perfume house, Khadlaj launched a two-fragrance collection for those with arty preferences. They called it 'The Proposal'. Aptly named, because it is a proposal of two very different explorations of what 'niche for less' may express itself as, in scent.

When I looked upon the published notes on the Khadlaj website, 'Date Night' immediately caught my fancy. I adore powdery fragrances. Soft nuances of iris, violet, orange blossom or heliotrope, wafting about me like a cashmere shrug on an autumn evening walk. Date Night did not disappoint. If I had wished for such powdery florals, I received my heart's desire in spades. In this offering, scent develops in two stages- the onslaught of heart and top notes, and the etude of the base. Indeed when I think of this fragrance, I conjure up cashmere jumpers. It's a 100ml bottle and at the rate I'm going, I doubt it'll be used up within this decade! I suppose what I want to say is that this is not a versatile fragrance. It is reserved for special winter moments with intimate distance in mind when its scent can tickle the nostrils of the person in receipt of your affections. Date night? Hmm, suitably named, don't you think?

It took a few months for me to work up the nerve to blind buy 'Special Occasion'. Patchouli in fragrances can either be a hit, a miss, or a barely there. I'd hoped for 'barely there' but in this fragrance, it is the fire of which all other notes dance around. Although the pyramid of top, heart and base notes have been defined on script, reality takes a much different approach. No, it all starts with the heart note of patchouli, a stamp of peach, and a naughty teasing of pink roses. Whilst patchouli and rose remain, a sour raspberry makes a brief appearance, falls back taking the rose note with it, and then we arrive at the 3rd movement. A dry down of patchouli, iris, musk and amber. And what a dry down it is! It settles, but does not give up its quasi-powdery scent cloud. It wraps around you, but does not threaten to choke or overwhelm. Special Occasion to me, is not for special occasions. Perhaps it is because I am a lover of green florals, unafraid of patchouli, and would rather wear this on the weekdays with my dress shirts, than relegate it to the odd, evening out.

That's all. Any thoughts?

Note: photos and notes courtesy of khadlaj-perfumes.com